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Fiji & New Zealand
  • Kim Veda
  • Kim Veda

Fiji & New Zealand

A week in Fiji at the Tony Robbins Conference Center for wisdom gleaning and spa retreat. Followed by a week of exploring in the south island of New Zealand. And finally, returning stateside to Knoxville ,TN for Edison's 3rd birthday party. Read more
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  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler
    11

    Crowne Plaza Hotel Nadi

    January 21 in Fiji ⋅ ☁️ 88 °F

    This place is so nice. Endless pools and restaurants everywhere. Right on the ocean. Nice place to relax for the day. The ocean is very warm like Florida ocean in July. The ocean floor is soft and a little mushy, rather than gritty, which makes it feel more like a lake. The water by the coast where the waves begin crashing is a little murkier and I couldn't see what's in the water.

    There are a lot of children and families here and they are constantly having games and activities outside.

    The music is pumping club style at the bar restaurant by the ocean and there is an infinity pool with a swim up bar.

    I hung at the beach and pool all day and this Fiji sun is no joke. Im definitely sun kissed ...(cough) burnt.

    I have a bathtub in my room, so super excited about that after showering at the spa for the last week. (Spa showers were much nicer and had better water pressure than my room shower.)

    Only $220 US per night. I would definitely come back to Nadi and stay here, but get one of the first floor rooms that walk right out to your own personal pool. Highly recommend this place. It also has a conference center.

    Sunset was nice, and at sunset they had the torch lighting ceremony with the lali drums.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Evening in Nadi

    January 21 in Fiji ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    I took a walk down the street looking for shops. Didn't find much, but did pick up a Fiji t- shirt. Then I went into TruMart the grocery store and the store was so clean and straight and organized with each item having four plus fronts. Reminded me of my childhood and Dad teaching me how to display things on the grocery shelf. I thought, "Dad would really like this store. " After all the sun and tons of water today, I thought I could use some coconut water. So I found coconut water mixed with mango juice and some garlic chili roasted peas. I also bought some super glue to hold my broken fingernail together. Chicken flavored chips are a big thing here evidently. Every type of chips and flavored salty snack has a chicken flavor.

    Coming out of the store I ran into Reena and her husband. They had just eaten at the Mexican restaurant upstairs. They are from New Zealand and we are on the same flight tomorrow. They are a very sweet Indian couple.

    Dinner of vegetarian Indian food with a glass of wine tops off the night. Delicious! Indian cuisine is my favorite. It is the eve of my birthday, and I have a bunch of Fijian cash burning a hole in my pocket, all needing to be spent before leaving Fiji tomorrow. I have 2-3 hours tomorrow morning and trying to decide if I'm going into town for shopping or if I'm going to the Garden of the Sleeping Giant.

    Looking forward to that bath tonight 🩵    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    My New Friend Peter

    January 22 in Fiji ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    Breakfast at Crowne Plaza Nadi is complementary and they have several buffets everything from normal American breakfast to Indian food, to Vietnamese pho to chia pudding and an assortment of baked goods. I asked for black coffee, trying to avoid dairy, and got a beautiful cappaccino with a four leaf clover. I drank it. Feeling blessed.

    I went to bed and woke up thinking that I was going to the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, but I changed my mind at the last minute and decided to go shopping in downtown Nadi.

    It was one of those nights that you think you're charging your phone all night, but you wake up and the battery is at 10%. Not a great way to start a travel day.

    I readied myself and packed up everything and left my luggage in the room. I headed to breakfast, and then went to find a taxi. Over the last day, there have been several taxi drivers who have offered to be a personal driver/ tour guide, showing me where to go and waiting for me while I shop, visit a venue, get my luggage, etc., even offering to give me their number so I could contact them the next day. There were no taxis at the hotel this morning, but I knew I'd find one of these rogue "taxi drivers" if I went off property, so I started walking back toward the market and stores I visited last night.

    I found a car with a man inside wearing a uniform and the "glass" (aka window) was rolled down, so I asked if he was a taxi. He said yes. He said he works at Turtle Island, which the logo on his uniform confirmed. He was to start work at 10 am. But he had some time, as it was only 8 am, and would be happy to drive me downtown for $20 FJ. I agreed and hopped in the back seat.

    As we drove, we worked out our arrangement. He would take me shopping, wait for me, take me back to the hotel, and wait while I fetched my bags and checked out, and then take me to the airport for $50 total. I told him that I needed to be at the airport at 10:45 am. I asked him if he was going to miss work, and he said that today was his day off. This completely negated what he previously told me, and I knew he was lying, but oh well. They all like side jobs.

    Everyone in Nadi knows "Peter" the driver, aka Munia (his real name) DOB 9/22/69. I told him that today was my birthday and why I was going to New Zealand. The story reveals my age, so he told me he was about the same age. Peter is an Indian man and begin to tell me about his recent first time flying in an airplane. He and his wife and grandchild went to Aukland, New Zealand to see his son who lives and works there on visa. Peter was so cute describing all the details of the flight. "First they served us a drink, then they brought out the food, then we had another drink and some wine and by the time that was done, the pilot said 'fasten your belts and prepare to land'." He spoke with the adorable wonderment of a child as they discover something new in the world.

    As we were driving, he suddenly paused and seemed concerned. "Oh, there are police here," he said. "If anyone asks you, you tell them that I am your friend. I am not your taxi driver, okay? I am your friend. You tell them I am your friend. " I agreed, thinking that non taxi persons acting like a taxi must be illegal. I asked him if that was the case, and he said no. He asked me to roll up the window, and rolled it up himself with the switch from the driver seat. I was a bit confused, and internally questioned my safety, but I dismissed that thought. I felt safe.

    As a fun detour, my new friend Peter took me to the Hindu Temple. Peter is Hindu. He explained to me that the Hindu people in the area, come by daily to pray and feed the gods. Twice a day, food, both lunch and dinner is served to everyone, regardless of religion. Anyone can show up to eat a vegetarian meal twice a day.

    As we parked, Peter said, "So remember I'm your friend, and we met on the beach yesterday, and I am your friend showing you around."    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Hindu Temple

    January 22 in Fiji ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    There are a lot of Indian people in Nadi. So much so that I feel like I'm in India; I mean having never been to India.... but in my imagination, it kind of feels like India with perhaps a slightly different climate and foliage. I'm thinking India might actually be more crowded and more third world, perhaps dirtier then Nadi. But that's my imagination.

    Nadi is actually pronounced "nahn-dee" with the n being ever so slightly present. Lots of Figi words add extra consonants in them. For instance, Bula which is the traditional greeting is actually pronounced "mboo-luh". Ever so slight, almost a nasally sounding m before the b. Like purse your lips to make the b sound, and then clinch your nose closed at the same time. This will make the exact "mb" sound.

    I've never visited a Hindu temple before, but I was very eager to do so, and jumped at Peter's offer to take me. I asked if I was dressed appropriately to go, as I was wearing my shortest of shorts and nothing but straps on my shoulders. With my new friend Peter and our developing story that surrounded the origins of our relationship, I was equipped. Peter would accompany me and show me what to do.

    We approached the entrance, and I paid a $5 FJ entrance fee. (Too bad it wasn't lunch time yet.) I was given two red sarongs, and instructed to tie one around my waist and the other over my shoulders. Peter placed the fabric on my back and shoulders, and I wrapped it around and tucked it securely under my purse strap. We removed our shoes, and we were ready to enter.

    I was instructed that photos were permitted outside of the temple, but not inside. I silently observed that the temple is set up along the same lines of the Levitical tabernacle. I was well educated on the Bible, both old and new testaments and read the Bible through many times. There were detailed lessons on the tabernacle as well, likening the levels of the tabernacle to the deepening levels of worship and communion with God. There are three levels or area of the tabernacle. There is the outer court of the tabernacle that was open to everyone, the inner court that was limited to certain persons, and then the holy of holies that was limited to only the priest at specified times. The lesson continued that at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus, who became the ultimate sacrifice for all sin, there was an earthquake and the curtain to the holy of holies was torn apart signifying that God's people no longer had to depend on a priest or make sacrifices to come to God.

    I found it interesting that the Hindu temple has a similar layout. It has the outer court where you can take photos and speak more freely, then the inner court where photos are not allowed and people are praying. Then in the center of the temple is a restricted area limited to devotees only. This area is completely enclosed with just a doorway, and I could not see inside.

    The temple is beautiful. The colors are bright, the architecture ornate, and each painted mural tells a story. I wish I had more time to know all the stories.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    My Adventure Shopping in Nadi

    January 22 in Fiji ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    I was really hoping to find some real authentic Fiji shops where I could find handmade crafts and jewelry, not the fake Chinese crap that the sterile chain shops sell.

    As we drove, we stopped for fuel, and Peter added to our story of how we met. "Remember, I'm your friend, not your taxi driver. We met on the beach yesterday, and we shared a meal for dinner. You came over to my house, and had dinner with my family, and asked me to show you around today." 🤪🙊🙉

    Peter took me to Jack's of Fiji, the nice looking store full of "made in China". I looked at the store and hesitated. I told him that I really wanted a more "divey, local place" (he probably didn't understand that terminology), but he assured me that it was safer here, and they wouldn't be pushy to sell me things, and try to wheel and deal me.

    I shopped at this store while Peter waited outside. When I emerged and checked my time, I asked if there was another shop nearby, more authentic and local where perhaps I could find a wooden turtle necklace. He led me around the corner to Alweera Boutique. The sign clearly says "100% Fiji Made Products, Fijian Owned".

    As I entered, we greeted each other with jubilant and cheerful bulas, as all Fijians do. The merchant first told me that his store was authentic and then invited me to join him in a welcoming ceremony, and I, all in that I am, of course said yes.

    First things first, my shoes came off again. I was invited to sit taylor-style on the floor covered with a natural fiber rug. He covered my legs with a fabric cover and then pulled out the kava.... of course! I couldn't back out now. It did cross my mind that perhaps this merchant was working in cahoots with Peter, and they were drugging me so they could drag me out of there, rob me or worse... but I chose to trust.

    He began to make the kava in the wooden kava bowl between us, explaining as he went. "Bula" clap once. He served me, and I drink 4 oz in one toss back. This kava did not taste bad. Thank God. It was actually pleasant. Yes, still earthy, but not nasty like my previous experience. Clap, clap, clap. Vinaka. As more customers came in, they did the same thing. Children too These people are drinking kava all day long. Check out the videos of the kava ceremony.

    Peter told me that school starts next week, so that is why there are so many children and families traveling this week.

    After the kava, the merchant showed me around. Pieces carved of bone, turquoise, black coral, and coconut wood. I selected several items; declined several others, and he offered everything to me for 600 FJ$. I got him down to 400 FJ$, and feel I probably still overpaid, but he said the turquoise alone was 200 FJ$. I calculated how much I needed to give Peter (60 FJ$), increasing it some since he went the extra mile taking me to the temple, and left a little more for possible future tips and a couple of bills to keep as a souvenir, and then I paid the merchant with my remaining Fiji dollars and the rest by credit card.

    Peter was waiting for me outside. We still had time to spare, but it was time to go back to the hotel to get my luggage, get me to the airport, and get Peter back to work. He would by a half hour late.

    I asked Peter if he would take a picture of me in front of the mural at the airport, and he happily agreed. After a hug and a selfie with my new friend Peter, I headed in to catch my flight.

    There were actually 7 of us from the conference on the flight to Aukland, and Reema got me into the lounge. Charlie was there making a connecting flight in Aukland as well, so he told me exactly what to do to get to the domestic terminal for my connecting flight. This was very helpful.

    I got my checked bags and then went through customs with beagles sniffing the luggage. Then followed the green line, at least one mile walk outside, to the domestic terminal. I then checked my bags again and went through security to my gate.

    Onwards to Queensland. Sota tale, Fiji.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Queenstown "Bottom of the World"

    January 22 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    I’ve arrived. New Zealand is impossibly green.

    Queenstown is wrapped in mountains, sitting right on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. The hills are a solid, velvety green with tiny trees scattered across them, a kind of landscape I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. The airport is small and rustic charming, with boarding outside and just two baggage carousels. All the shops at the airport were closed by the time I arrived; however it was still daylight, not even sunset. Getting my luggage and calling an Uber was super easy.

    I’m staying in an Airbnb on Anderson Heights near Camp Street, up on the hill overlooking the city. I got settled into the house for the week, logged into the Wi-Fi, and looked up late-night food since it was already around 10 pm. Then I headed down the hill to explore. There’s a grocery store nearby, but it was already closed, so that’s first on my list tomorrow. I’m glad I grabbed two bottles of water at the Auckland airport. Something told me to.

    I ended up at Toast & Oak, a classy spot. The kitchen was closed by the time I arrived, so it was snack menu only. Blue cheese olives and sourdough felt like the most savory, decent option, and I brought some bread back with me. If I’m running late tomorrow, at least I’ll have something in my stomach before my scheduled wine tour. My server was kind and answered a few questions about grocery stores, Uber versus taxi, need for cash and where to get it, and we talked about the Southern Lights. He used the phrase "bottom of the world" which intrigued me. I am 1300 miles from Antartica and 4000 miles from the South Pole. That seems like a long way still. New Zealand is the 8th closest land mass to the South Pole according to Wikipedia.

    Last night they had brilliant southern lights here, the same phenomenon people call the Northern Lights in the northern hemisphere. I’m hoping I get lucky and see them while I'm here. No luck tonight.

    It feels a little strange being alone on my birthday. All day while traveling, I kept looking around and wondering if I was the only American (US citizen) nearby. I heard accents everywhere, English mostly, but not American English, and it was oddly disorienting to realize I was the outlier. Part of me misses home, but another part of me feels deeply connected to the mix of people moving through the same terminals and streets, each of us carrying our own story and our own reason for being here. There’s no “that’s my people,” but instead this quiet sense that we’re all someone’s people.

    And the one good thing about being 18 hours ahead on your birthday is that you get to celebrate for two days! 🤩🥳🎉

    Also, getting back up that hill is serious cardio.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Marmolada Cafe

    January 23 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 52 °F

    I have booked several tours while I'm here, and this nice little cafe is my pick up spot. Nice that I can arrive early and grab a bite. Still no groceries.

    Today is a 6 hour wine tour.

    It's a cloudy day, in the mid 50's. Might get a bit of rain, but I think it's only a 20% chance. Most people here are in t- shirts, and I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt, a scarf and a coat.

    This poached egg ciabatta is awesome. The bread is perfect.

    So the story for me on New Zealand is that I've wanted to visit here forever, like 10-15 years. I was drawn to New Zealand because of the beauty, nature and... the wine. My fav wine was from NZ.

    So for years I planned that I would go to NZ for my 50th birthday. But it was covid and NZ completely shut off from the world. When I had an opportunity to go to Fiji, I knew I could not come so far, and not go to NZ. I would be so disappointed in myself. So interestingly enough, I flew into New Zealand on my 55th birthday!    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Gibbston Valley Winery

    January 23 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

    Lovely group of folks from UK, Switzerland, Utah, Wisconsin, Austrailia all piled in a van. We make our first winery stop at Gibbston Valley.

    A fun game or guess that aroma.

    Harves begins in March. Grapes are babies right now. They are a certified organic winery. Every 20 minute a loud sound is emitted to scare away the birds. Wine is aged in a wine cave. A well taken care of vine can live over 100 years. 1.5 tons of dynamite to blast out the wine cave. 75 meters long. The walls are covered with concrete to prevent water from leaking in.

    We tasted rose, reisling, and pinot noir. I liked the reisling the best.

    There is a young couple here from Switzerland. I told them that I am 47% Swiss which means my Dad was likely almost 100% and my Mom was not. I know my heritage about 5 generations back to Gray, Georgia and have visited the gravesites. They told me that one of their Presidents (they have 7) is Karen Souther (pronounced Soo-ter). This is my maiden name. Karen Souther is the Minister of Finance. Souther is a very common name in Switzerland.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Kinross

    January 23 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

    A winery representing various winemakers in the region. Valli. Hawkshead reisling is very nice. Wild Irishman... an Irishman who was called mad when he decided to make wine in this valley, 89 years old with award winning pinot noir. Beautiful light mild peppery flavor. Dangerous 😅 I bought a bottle.

    Back in the day, New Zealand was not a high priority with Portugal for wine cork. When they did finally get cork, it was compromised and ruined several years a of wine batches... so New Zealand invented the screw cap!

    T L W the light within. The wine that made itself in 18 months.

    Most of these wines have only 1000 to 5000 bottles made.

    They have accommodations here as well.

    Lunch was delish, herbed fish and arugula salad.

    www.tracknet.net for a bus ride... wanna get to te anau glow worm cave.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Mt Rosa

    January 23 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 55 °F

    There is such a thing as a pinot blanc grape.

    The gris tastes like a chardonnay and the pinot blanc like a pinot grigio.

    There is a wharf waterfront boardwalk in Queenstown. See I knew doing a wine tour with a group of people on my first day would be a great idea.

    Wine dogs here.

    Having a great time!    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Ayrburn Winery

    January 23 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 55 °F

    I was the DJ for the van. Fun group.

    This winery is beautiful. Flower gardens, beautiful grounds. We sat down to a self guided tour with a four tasting sample.

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    1876 and Tanoshi Japanese Bistro

    January 23 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 54 °F

    The van dropped off a few of us at 1876 which is just a few blocks, 7 min walk to my apartment. Charlie said this a most popular local hangout and she especially likes it because you can sit outside and it gets a lot off sun. This beautiful stone building was the original courthouse built in 1876, and Charlie's grandfather worked here back in the day. The judge's stand is still present.

    As soon as we got off the van, Charlie confessed that she has been a mystery shopper all day, and she works for a competitor. She polled us about our thoughts on the wine tour and how we found the tour. She loves her job wondering around town scouting marketing campaigns and going on tours.

    Kate, Charlie and Charlie gave me lots of recommendations for what to do and where to go. Don't miss Fergburger. These are great restaurants, the best clubs... Here are my notes from the conversation...

    Cowboy- has a mechanical bull
    Next door there is an ice bar am for Marco. Below zero
    Bungalow

    Barmuda
    Bunca!
    Ballarat! Aka "the rat"
    Rinos- up and coming
    Polk mahone Irish bar
    Little black wood

    Boat house Cafe

    Soda,  on the water. happy hour

    At their recommendation, I stopped at the tiniest little Japanese Bistro. I sat at the bar, sipping my warm sake and eating fried tofu and vegetable dumplings and began talking to the beautiful 70 year old woman sitting next to me. We talked about a lot of things. She is not happy with Trump; says he is for Putin and his dealings with NATO are hurting New Zealand. I just listened. Politics aside she reminded me a lot of Aunt Wanda: worldly, well traveled, polished, wealthy, husband who is traveling and likely a prominent person. Her hair was perfectly slicked back tight in a low bun and her skin glistened with the perfect amount of cream makeup. Born in 1956, she was youthful. Her grandma name is Didi.

    My new restaurant friend, Diane, talked as I repeatedly dropped soy sauce and food in my lap. Dumplings and tofu, crispy outside but mushy inside, are not the easiest things to eat with chopsticks. She told me I needed to see the botanical gardens, local hiking trails, and I could walk to the gondola.

    I have much to see and do in Queenstown.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Laundry & Grocery Shopping

    January 24 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 50 °F

    I brought laundry pods with me so I could do laundry here. So after sleeping in this morning, I started laundry and plotted my shopping run.

    I've been drinking tap water since last night. And craving fruit. I think I need Vitamin C. So grocery store was a must. The Fresh Choice is an 8 minute walk, downhill there, but a steep uphill back. I looked into shopping online and having my order delivered, but there were no availabilities for delivery on the weekend.

    So I put on my hiking boots and strapped on my empty backpack and one other shopping bag and headed to the store.

    It's 47 degrees today, but honestly it doesn't feel cold at all. Especially when walking everywhere. The rain has held off so far today besides a gentle mist.

    The grocery store was mid-sized, clean and organized, with digital price tags, paper sacks for the produce, eggs on the shelf, and a great selection of specialty products. I got some plums, mandarins, apples, gf seeded bread, cherry tomatoes, broccoli chopped salad kit, smoked hummus, pesto, chili smoked mackerel, butter, frozen broccoli, 4 bottles of 1.5 litter water, and a liter of coconut water. The total was $69 NZD. I loaded everything into my backpack and carry bag from Jack's of Fiji and started the hike up the hill to the apartment.

    I consider myself relatively in shape. I mean I hike, walk the beach, dance, climb stairs... but I was panting like I was at 6000 feet elevation and my precious little heart was beating as fast as am embryo's. Queenstown at the lake is 1000 feet above area level. The apartment is at 1200 feet.

    I'm happy and quite pleased with myself to have a stocked frig, fruit for breakfast, fresh water... and returned to a semi dry, steamed clean load of laundry.

    Eating my fruit while I contemplate my next adventure.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler
    1

    Queenstown Botanical Gardens

    January 24 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 52 °F

    I went on an adventure walk and found my way to the botanical gardens on the lake.

    So beautiful and so many things to do here. Trails, picnic, smell the roses, bike, tennis, the Qurenstown Bowling Club (which is more like bocce ball than American bowling), playground, swim, beach, swing on a rope into the water, jet boat, eat, people watch...

    It was continuously misty, light rain, and my hoodie was perfect for keeping me dry and warm.

    The trees were huge, like 10 foot in diameter, and the flowers were beaitiful. Even the adults love the slide at the park. Can buy fresh oysters from a cart vendor on the boardwalk. There is cotton candy in shapes of characters.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Fergburger

    January 24 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 52 °F

    Burgers aren't normally part of my diet, but Fergburger is to Queenstown as Hattie B's Hot Chicken is to Nashville. People line up down the street to get their Fergburger. So I had to go. Smelling it and taking a few pictures wasn't enough.

    And I'm really glad I did. I waited in line for 20 minutes, then another 20 minutes to get my burger.

    There is also a Mrs. Ferg's bakery, Gelato, coffee bar, and hot pies, as well as a Ferg's bar.

    I ordered the original Fergburger, and it was delicious and incredibly fresh. The burger was cooked perfectly, not dry. The vegetables were super fresh, the aeoli sauce yummy, and the bun soft, slightly seedy and perfect. I sat on a bench and ate my burger while it was still hot.

    With my phone already about to die, I stopped to get New Zealand dollars on my way back to the apartment.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler
    1

    Walking around Town

    January 24 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 48 °F

    I booked an ice bar tour for 8 pm, and headed that way, only to arrive to the wrong ice bar. There are actually three ice bars in Queenstown. Who knew!

    I had plenty of time to walk another 10 minutes up the hill towards the gondola. Arriving early, I took a stroll through the Queenstown Cemetary. It was raining lightly, and the umbrella kept me dry.

    Twice, I walked past all the bars located on the same little alleyway, including Cowboy Bar. I noticed that they have karaoke on Sunday nights. I went to get a Chai to warm up after the ice bar, and then ducked into a shop to look at souvenirs.

    I have to get up at 5 am, so I'm back to the apartment early for a good night's sleep.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Queenstown Ice Bar

    January 24 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 48 °F

    The ice bar was a lot of fun. Kept at between 6 and 19 degrees fahrenheit, everything is made out of ice including the bar, the seats, the glasses.

    I donned the puffy long coat, a hat and gloves and descended the stairs to the ice cave.

    The music was dancing and the lights were changing colors. At first, I felt very warm; but after 20 minutes my fingers and toes were defintely feeling cold. I presented my card to the bartender for the espresso martini that I previously paid for.

    I left before Ice Ice baby came on. That was the cue to exit.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Milford Sound Premium Day Tour

    January 25 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    I woke up at 5 am for a 13 hour day-tour headed southwest to Milford Sound. 14 of us from around the world in one 16 passenger luxury van. It's a four hour drive to get there with a couple of stops along the way. At the Alpine Center Cafe, I bought a chia pudding, a hat and mittens. It's cold and rainy today.

    The tour guide is "Rockov" originally from India. His accent is thick, and with the rain and road noise, I'm having difficulty hearing and understanding him. Thankfully I have a USB port, so I can distract myself, and don't have to worry about phone battery. Going through Devil's Staircase, the road is windy and bumpy. I'm sitting in the back of the van and every bump literally ejects me up from my seat. Thankfully, the backseat has shoulder harness seatbelts, so with each boost upward I'm immediately jolted back to my seat.

    Here are some of the highlights of the tour:

    The mountain had fresh snow overnight.  The mountain is called "The Remarkables"- the most photographed mountain in the area. Snow in the summer is unusual.

    Lake Wakatipu has a rise and fall of the water level- 30 cm every 25 min. It's a closed body of water, but the "tides" are due to atmospheric pressure, according to Rockov. When I look it up, I find, "Due to its 84 km length and narrow shape, water oscillates back and forth in a 26.7-minute cycle. This creates a "standing wave" or seiche, most noticeable in Queenstown Bay, where the water level fluctuates by up to 200 mm."

    We passed Kingston, a town at south end of lake. There is a steam boat tour that goes back and forth from Kingston to Queenstown. This is the steam boat that I saw last night.

    Next we drove through 1.5 hour of countryside. 3 million Sheep, 1 million cows, hay and farmland. I saw a field of hops. None of the animals here are native to New Zealand, and there are no predatory land animals. No danger to the livestock. Kea bird is very mischievous, steals things. Kiwi bird only comes out at night. NZ major exporter of meat. Possums and rabbits are pests.

    In 2022 there was a stoat found on the island that was a threat to native birds, so they spent half a million dollars and it took 8 months to catch one stoat.

    Town of Mossburn, Deer Capitol of New Zealand. There are literal deer farms here. Picture 50-200 head of deer grazing in a fenced pasture. I saw several of these; however, they are less prolific than the sheep and cows. In the 1930's, deer were declared a pest because they were destroying vegetation. The government hired hunters to kill the deer and they brought back the skins to get paid. After some time, the hunters were only paid to bring back live deer, and there were multiple ways hunters would do this including helicopters, wrestling the deer, and tranquilizers. None of these worked very well.

    The mountains are growing 5 to 10 mm per year. Small earthquakes are common here, usually around 2 on the Richter scale. There is a major faultline here. Predictions of a 8 magnitude earthquake coming, with a resulting tsunami of 40 meter waves. Not today!

    Lake Te Anau is the largest lake on the south island of New Zealand, followed by Lake Wakatipu.

    Te anau means "cave of swirling water". The lakes here have a base of limestone, so I was right about the clear and blue color of the water due to calcium (like Lake Tahoe). There is a Glow worm cave in Te anau. It has bioilluminescence on the walls of the cave. "The caves are illuminated by thousands of Arachnocampa luminosa glowworms, which thrive in the dark, damp environment."

    Milford Track is a 53.5 km hike that takes 3 to 5 days to complete.  There are guided hiking tours which are recommended. Not safe to walk alone unless one is an experienced hiker in this terrain.

    I saw groves of Manuka tree from which manuka honey comes from.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Fiordland National Park

    January 25 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 45 °F

    From the NZ conservation website, "Fiordland National Park (established in 1952) has spectacular ice-carved fiords, lakes and valleys, rugged granite tops and pristine mountain to sea vistas."

    From Wikipedia, "Fiordland National Park is a national park in the south-west corner of South Island of New Zealand. It is the largest of the 13 national parks in New Zealand, with an area covering 12,607 km2 (4,868 sq mi),[1] and a major part of the Te Wāhipounamu a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 1990. The park is administered by the Department of Conservation (DOC). The southern ranges of the Southern Alps cover most of Fiordland National Park, combined with the deep glacier-carved valleys."

    Visability is compromised today due to weather.

    Mirror Lakes- crystal reflections. A nice boardwalk through the trees.

    New Zealand is comprised of 600 islands!

    I was at 45 degrees latitude south, the farthest south I may ever get unless I go to Argentina, Chile or Antartica. 45 degrees is half way between the equator and the south pole.

    Lake Gunn is named after George Gunn, 1861. The group had fun skipping rocks on the lake.

    Purple and white Lupines line the sides of the road. So pretty.

    Fox View- beautiful overlook

    Huge Waterfall! Called Falls Creek. I was scouting my spot for cold plunging in the Holly Ford River.

    Darren Mountains are made of solid granite.

    The sun finally peaked out at 11:48 am.

    Glaciers on top of the mountains appear as snow, but it is ice that's been there indefintely.

    Monkey Creek. Monkey was the name of the explorer's dog who got washed away in the creek. The orange stuff on the rocks? I looked it up.... "The orange "stuff" on rocks in Fiordland National Park is almost certainly a lichen, specifically types that thrive in the wet, coastal, and subalpine environments of the South Island. It is often mistaken for moss or algae, but it is actually a symbiotic partnership between a fungus and an alga (or cyanobacteria).

    Kea birds made their assistance, playing and messing on top of the cars that were in front of us on the road. Yes, they landed on moving vehicles.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Majestic Milford Sound Boat Cruise

    January 25 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    We continued our journey, driving through a tunnel that dropped 128 meters down and came out the other side in the valley.

    Dropping further and further all the way to sea level at Milford Sound, the west coast opening to the Tasman Sea, called Dale Point. Piopiotahi is the Maori name for Milford Sound and the inlet runs 15-16 km inland. Crystal clear, aqua blue is a mixture of fresh water and saltwater leading out to the sea. Milford Sound is technically a fjord (a long, narrow inlet of sea between high cliffs), created by glaciers.

    We're told that penguins sometimes appear; and penguins shed their skins this time of year. Bottle nose dolphins are sometimes seen as well. I didn't see any. However, I did see a couple of New Zealand fur seals sunning themselves on a rock.

    The Milford Sound boat cruise was magnificent and so beautiful. The colors really are that brilliant. The boat got so close to the waterfalls. I could feel the mist, the cold air, and the power of the water.

    After the boat cruise, we loaded up in the van, and began the four hour bumpy treck back to Queenstown. 13 hours total; 9 hours of driving. I was cold and tired, and headed up the steep hill to a hot shower and rest. No karaoke for Kimberly tonight.

    Did you know that Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the world? Huge ski town with three ski resorts. Lots of other outside activities, anything and everything. In fact, the bungee jump off the AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge was the very first commercial bungee jump in the world, founded in 1988. It's a 43 meter drop with water touch option. I saw this on Friday on the wine tour. Nope. I'll stick with the gondola.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler
    1

    Cardrona Hotel

    January 26 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    Today I joined a tour to Wanaka and Arrowtown. But first we made a stop to photograph the lupines, then the Windy Hill Overlook, Cardrona Hotel and Bradrona.

    Our tour guide, Maury, is a native to New Zealand. His family were sheep farmers, but he decided he didn't like sheep that much and decided to herd tourists instead. Maury is semi-retired now and only works three days a week. Today I got to sit in the front seat, which may be my first time riding front passenger in a car that has the driver on the right.

    Maury moved to Queenstown 41 years ago, and at that time the town had a population of only 5000 people. Today the population is 50,000, and there are probably that many tourists in the city at any given time, 12 months a year.

    It's been a crappy-weather summer so far, with only a handful of nice days. The warmest the lake gets is 50 degrees in the summer, and even then the longest a person can stay alive in the lake is about 30 minutes. Maury once rescued a man who had been in the water for 20 minutes and was ready to let himself go when they found him. The lake does not freeze over in winter, however; it just ices around the edges.

    Random facts.... The Remarkables are 7600 ft high. Kmart still going strong here.
    Bill Hamilton, in 1955 invented the jet boat here in NZ. These boats can run in 4 in of water. Jet boat tours are popular here and I'm going on one on Wednesday.

    111 is the emergency number in NZ, fyi.

    The tree line here is at about 800 meters. Not much besides grass and brush grows above that.

    Sheep are farmed for meat mostly. There is no money in wool. It costs more to hire someone to sheer the sheep than the wool is worth.

    At the top of windy hill, we stepped over a fence with some stationary steps up, over and down the other side of the fence. Then went to the edge of the mountain for a view and photos.

    Then we proceeded to the historic Cardrona Hotel. Cardrona is a small tourist ski town, and so very quaint. There is a restaurant and bar, a hotel, and a gift shop in the old schoolhouse. I heard that the hotel just sold for something crazy like 20 million dollars. Jimmy the owner lived to 91 years old and died in 1961. His ghost is rumored to reside in the hotel. Jimmy restricted how much alcohol people bought from him. First of all, women were not allowed any alcohol. If a man was going one way toward the mountains, he was allowed only one drink. If he was going the other way, he could have two drinks. Jimmy died in room 6.
    It is said that if too many women come into the hotel, things start to move.

    A little bit up the road toward Wanaka is "Bardrona". The story is on New Years' Eve 1999, four "ladies" left their bras on the fence, and well it started from there. Women have been leaving their bras ever since.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    That Wanaka Tree

    January 26 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Onward, we passed the festival grounds of the Rhythm & Alps music festival, held each year between December 29-31. About 10,000 People attend the 3 day music festival and camp on site.

    Wanaka population is about 20,000 and growing. There are a lot of campgrounds here, hiking the mountains, snow skiing, and summer vacationers. Renting a camper to tour around New Zealand is very popular.

    That Wanaka Tree is a willow tree that grows solo out in the lake in Wanaka. Here's the story, "The widely told local history is that more than 70–80 years ago, a willow branch was used as a fence post extending into the lake to help keep stock in check. That branch took root in the lakebed and grew into the tree people photograph today."

    It became popular more recently when photographers posted it on social media. "Although the tree had existed for decades as a local curiosity, it wasn’t widely known beyond locals and visitors until around 2014, when a photograph of the tree taken by Christchurch photographer Dennis Radermacher won the 2014 New Zealand Geographic Photograph of the Year."

    By 2017, the tree became a social media phenomenon.

    When the water level is low, one can walk to it, but water is high now and surrounds it.

    I had an hour to roam Wanaka. I ate lunch at Kai Whaka Pai, which is a local favorite. I had an open steak sandwich with truffle mayonnaise and pesto.

    Then I walked the town to the bakery and bought a blueberry pastry.

    I stopped at the dock to see if I could see the eels, but I did not see them.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Arrowtown & The Chinese Settlement

    January 26 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    I woke up this morning feeling like I was ready to go home. Not that I'm done, but that I've had my fill of travel and adventure. I feel satiated.

    Arrowtown is the small town where gold was first found at the Arrowtown River. 1860s people came from all over, but mostly Austrailia and China to mine gold. There was a settlement of Chinese here on the river and their little settlement and huts remain.

    I walked the river first, and wound myself around to the Chinese Settlement. I bought a half a kg of cherries for $10 NZD, and munched on cherries, spitting the seeds as I walked through the Chinese Settlement.

    Then I walked around town to the post office and multiple shops.    Read more

  • Kim VedaFiji & New ZealandTraveler

    Skyline Gondola & Stratosfare

    January 26 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    I really am afraid of heights. I look at that little cable holding all the gondolas and it freaks me out. I see the people standing at the edge of an overlook and I freak out even more. It's mind over matter and deep breathing to get through it. The views are worth it. Before coming back down, I sat at the Stratosfare and had a dirty martini while I plotted my evening and got up my nerve to go back down.

    There is a restaurant, overlook, luge rides down the mountain, and the mountain bikers ride up the gondola with their bikes and then bike down the mountain.

    "Old Farts (over 50) get $50 off on indoor skydiving. Better than Bingo Night!" Not this old fart. I'm gonna keep my feet on the ground.    Read more

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